Liverpool have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Southampton to sign defender Virgil van Dijk and Gary Neville believes it could turn out to be a great deal for the Merseyside club.
The Reds confirmed on their official website that they have agreed to sign the 26-year-old and that the deal will be completed when the transfer window re-opens on 1 January.
He is set to take the number four jersey at Anfield and will link up with his new teammates in the New Year.
Sky Sports report that the agreed deal is believed to be £75million, which would make him the world’s most expensive ever defender.
Liverpool were hot on the hails of the powerhouse centre-back in the summer before missing out on his signature, but have finally got their main transfer target six months later.
Sky Sports pundit Neville is staggered by the reported sum paid for Van Dijk, but admits it could be worth it if he fixes Jurgen Klopp’s shaky defence.
“It is a lot of money isn’t it? I’ve not seen a lot of Southampton recently but I’m not sure he has even been playing that well,” Neville told TV programme Sky Sports News (6:07pm, Wednesday).
“£75million. I know that Liverpool have wanted him for obviously six months and they do need back-up.
“I think he is a good defender. I’m not surprised by the actual transfer, but that is an incredible amount of money.”
“It sounds like a fantastic deal for Southampton, but if Liverpool can stop what I think is there creaking in big matches then it will be a good deal for Liverpool too.”
OPINION
Van Dijk is finally set to become a Liverpool player and he could finally be the missing piece of the jigsaw at Anfield. The Reds have the firepower to compete with the runaway leaders Manchester City in the Premier League, but defensively they have been extremely poor in recent years and lack a leadership. They are now brining in a centre-back that is technically gifted on the ball and also a real desire to defend. He could be a brilliant signing for Klopp despite the large price tag and help sure up a backline that often leak goals, while the arrival of defensive midfield Naby Keita in the summer will also massively improve the team.